The sound of a gunshot alone can often turn a predator into kill/fight mode. When you hit them and don't kill them, it is worse. Seen it first hand with partially trapped or maimed bears.

Many large northern predators know a gunshot means a dinner bell. You may bring in more trouble to your camp the next day....even if you scared off your initial nuisance target.

Yeah, I’ll just stick with skiing and running in town...

Colorado is mild. CPW has been paying a team of mercenaries to keep all predators down (cats, coyotes, black and griz) for decades. There are two populations of isolated griz here CPW is forbidden to discuss....

This is just so out of state noobs can pop a giant 5x5 lawn elk 50 yards from the ATV trails. Many of these bucks were eating fresh sod on front lawns the previous spring in Estes Park.

I'd be more worried around ellensburg and north of Colville. Huge cats (nearing 3 hundo), wolf packs and the red man will get you before any Boulder hippy mini-cat will.

EDIT: WDFW will laugh at you if a bear/cat/wolf disturb your camp and you call in. CPW will be forced to remove it.

My friend who goes to Central had a big car encounter not too long ago. Said it was a smaller one though.